Integrated draper belt support and skid shoe in an agricultural harvesting machine

ABSTRACT

A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/109,758,entitled “INTEGRATED DRAPER BELT SUPPORT AND SKID SHOE IN ANAGRICULTURAL HARVESTING MACHINE”, filed Apr. 25, 2008, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/043,256, entitled“INTEGRATED DRAPER BELT SUPPORT AND SKID SHOE IN AN AGRICULTURALHARVESTING MACHINE”, filed Mar. 8, 2011 which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to agricultural harvesting machines, and,more particularly, to agricultural combines including a draper cuttingplatform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An agricultural harvesting machine such as a combine includes a head anda feeder housing which remove the crop material from the field, gatherthe crop material and transport the crop material to a separator. In thecase of thinner stemmed crops such as soybeans, wheat, etc. which may becut with a sickle bar carrying a plurality of knives, the head may alsobe known as a cutting platform. The separator removes the grain cropmaterial from the non-grain crop material. The grain is cleaned anddeposited in a grain tank. When the grain tank becomes full, anunloading auger which is positioned alongside the combine duringharvesting is moved to the unloading position in which the auger extendsapproximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the combine. Thecombine drives alongside a vehicle into which the grain is to beunloaded, such as a semi-trailer, and the unloading auger is actuated todischarge the grain into the vehicle.

A cutting platform may generally be of two types. One type typically hasa sheet metal floor with a dual feed auger near the rear of the cuttingplatform for feeding the crop material longitudinally to the feederhousing. A cutting platform of this type with auger feed is more common.

Another type of cutting platform, also known as a draper platform,utilizes a flat, wide belt, referred to as a draper or draper belt toconvey crop material. The arrangement and number of belts vary amongplatforms. One style of draper platform has two side belts that conveycrop material longitudinally, to the center of the platform, where acenter feed belt moves the crop material laterally into the feederhousing. Each belt is wrapped around a pair of rollers, one being adrive roller and the other being an idler roller. An example of thistype draper arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,397, whichis assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

An advantage of a draper platform is that larger amounts of cropmaterial can be transported without plugging, etc. For example, withwide platforms approaching 40 feet or even larger, the amount of cropmaterial transported to the feeder housing can be substantial. With anauger feed platform, the crop material may bind between the auger andthe back wall of the platform. In contrast, with a draper platform, thecrop material is carried on top of the belt with less chance forplugging.

Draper platforms currently in use have a rigid framework not allowingthe framework to flex to any appreciable extent during use. The draperplatform can be placed in a “float” position such that the cutterbar atthe leading edge does not dig into the ground, but the leading edge ofthe platform itself cannot flex across the width of the platform as aresult of uneven ground terrain. This results in some crop materialbeing missed in ground depressions, etc., while also possibly causing apart of the cutterbar to dig into localized ground elevations (e.g.,small mounds, etc.). Of course, missed crop material directly translatesinto missed revenue, and localized gouging of soil can cause additionalrepair expenses resulting from broken knives, knife guards, etc.

Rigid platforms as described above typically include skid shoes at thebottom of the leading edge. The skid shoes are generally angledrearwardly and downwardly from the leading edge and are movable upwardsand downwards at least slightly relative to each other. The skid shoesare typically stand alone components with sheet metal extending betweenand covering the bottom, leading edge of the skid shoes. In the case ofa draper platform, belt carriers which are separate from the skid shoescarry the return run of the draper belt.

What is needed in the art is a draper platform which better follows theground contour during operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a cutting platform for usewith an agricultural harvesting machine, including at least one platformsection. Each platform section includes a cutterbar assembly movable ina localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless beltwith a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoeextends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surfacedefining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.

The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a skid shoe for usewith a cutting platform in an agricultural harvesting machine. The skidshoe includes a forward end for attachment with a cutterbar assembly, alower surface positionable in association with a ground surface overwhich the harvesting machine traverses, and an upper surface defining abelt support for a leading edge of an endless belt.

The invention comprises, in yet another form thereof, an agriculturalharvesting machine, including a base unit with a feeder housing, and acutting platform attached to the feeder housing. The cutting platformincludes at least one platform section. Each platform section has acutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards anddownwards directions, an endless belt having a leading edge, and aplurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from thecutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support forthe leading edge of the endless belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, top view of an agricultural combine includingan embodiment of a draper platform of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the agricultural combine ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the cutting platform shownin FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, top view of the leading edge of the cuttingplatform shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, front perspective view of the leading edge ofthe cutting platform shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, rear perspective view of the leading edge shownin FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, side sectional view of the leading edge ofFIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the skid shoe and skid plate shown inFIGS. 5-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and, more particularly to FIGS. 1-4,there is shown an agricultural harvesting machine in the form of acombine 10 including an embodiment of a cutting platform 12 of thepresent invention. Combine 10 includes a feeder housing 14 which isdetachably coupled with cutting platform 12. Feeder housing 14 receivesthe crop material from cutting platform 12, both grain and non-graincrop material, and transports the crop material to a separator withincombine 10 in known manner (not shown). The grain crop material isseparated from the non-grain crop material, cleaned and transported to agrain tank. The non-grain crop material is transported to a chopper,blower, etc. in known manner and distributed back to the field.

Cutting platform 12 generally includes a plurality of platform sections16, 18 and 20, a cutterbar assembly 22 and a reel assembly 24. In theembodiment shown, platform section 16 is a center platform section,platform section 18 is a first wing platform section, and platformsection 20 is a second wing platform section. Although shown with threeplatform sections, cutting platform 12 may be configured with more orless platform sections, depending upon the particular application.

Each platform section 16, 18 and 20 generally includes a frame 26, aplurality of float arms 28 coupled with a respective frame 26, acutterbar 30 carried by the outboard ends of respective float arms 28,an endless belt 32, and a plurality of belt guides 34. The frame 26 offirst wing platform section 18 and second wing platform section 20 areeach pivotally coupled with center platform section 16, such that theoutboard ends of first wing platform section 18 and second wing platformsection 20 can move up and down independent from center platform section16. To that end, a lift cylinder 36 coupled between the frame of combine10 and feeder housing 14 lifts the entire cutting platform 12, a firsttilt cylinder 38 coupled between the respective frame 26 of first wingplatform section 18 and center platform section 16 pivotally moves firstwing platform section 18 relative to center platform section 16, and asecond tilt cylinder 40 coupled between the respective frame 26 ofsecond wing platform section 20 and center platform section 16 pivotallymoves second wing platform section 20 relative to center platformsection 16.

Cutterbar assembly 22 includes two cutterbars 30 carried at the outboardends of float arms 28 (i.e., at the leading edge of a platform section16, 18 or 20). Each cutterbar 30 includes a plurality of knives 42carried by a bar (not specifically shown). The particular type of knifecan vary, such as a double blade knife (as shown) or a single bladeknife. The bar is formed from a metal which is flexible to an extentallowing a desired degree of flexure across the width of cuttingplatform 12. In the embodiment shown, a majority of each cutterbar 30 iscarried by a respective first wing platform section 18 or second wingplatform section 20, with a lesser extent at the adjacent inboard endsof each cutterbar 30 being carried by center platform section 16.Cutterbars 30 are simultaneously driven by a single knife drive 44,providing reciprocating movement in concurrent opposite directionsbetween cutterbars 30.

A plurality of knife guards 46 are positioned in opposition to knives 42for providing opposing surfaces for cutting the crop material withknives 42. A plurality of keepers 48 spaced along cutterbars 30 have adistal end above cutterbars 30 for maintaining cutterbars 30 in placeduring reciprocating movement.

Float arms 28 may be pivoted at their connection locations with arespective frame 26. A float cylinder 50 coupled between a respectiveframe 26 and float arm 28 may be used for raising or lowering theoutboard end of float arm(s) 28 at the leading edge of cutting platform12. Each float cylinder 50 may also be placed in a “float” positionallowing the connected float arm 28 to generally follow the groundcontour during operation. More particularly, each float cylinder 50 isfluidly connected with an accumulator 52 carried by a platform section16, 18 or 20. Accumulator 52 allows fluid to flow to and from attachedfloat cylinders 50 such that no pressure build-up occurs. In thismanner, the rams associated with each float cylinder 50 are free to moveback and forth longitudinally, thereby allowing float arms 28 to followthe ground contour. When not in a float mode, float cylinders 50 can beactuated to move float arms 28 in an upward or downward direction. Inthe embodiment shown, each float cylinder 50 is a hydraulic cylinder,but could possibly be configured as a gas cylinder for a particularapplication.

Each float arm 28 is also associated with a respective roller 54. Theplurality of rollers 54 for each platform section 16, 18 and 20 carryand are positioned within a loop of a respective endless belt 32. At theinboard end of first wing platform section 18 and second wing platformsection 20 is a driven roller, and at the outboard end of first wingplatform section 18 and second wing platform section 20 is an idlerroller. The rollers positioned between the inboard drive roller andoutboard idler roller at each float arm 28 also function as idlerrollers. It will be appreciated that the number of float arms 28, andthus the number of rollers 54, may vary depending upon the overall widthof cutting head 12 transverse to the travel direction.

Reel assembly 24 includes two reels 56, center reel support arm 58 and apair of outer reel support arms 60. Outer reel support arms 60 arepivotally coupled at one end thereof with an outboard end of arespective first wing platform section 18 or second wing platformsection 20. Outer reel support arms 60 rotationally carry a respectivereel 56 at an opposite end thereof. Each outer reel support arm 60 maybe selectively moved up and down using a hydraulic cylinder, and thepair of hydraulic cylinders are typically coupled in parallel so thatthey move together upon actuation.

Center reel support arm 58 is pivotally coupled at one end thereof withcenter platform section 16 above the opening leading to feeder housing14. Center reel support arm 58 rotationally carries an inboard end ofeach reel 56 at an opposite end thereof. A hydraulic motor 62 or othersuitable mechanical drive rotationally drives each reel 56. Moreparticularly, hydraulic motor 62 drives a common drive shaft 64 througha chain and sprocket or other suitable arrangement (not shown). Therotational speed of reels 56 can be adjusted by an operator by adjustingthe rotational speed of hydraulic motor 62.

Center reel support arm 58 may be selectively moved up and down using ahydraulic cylinder 66. Center reel support arm 58 is movableindependently from outer reel support arms 60. To accommodate thisindependent movement, drive shaft 64 driven by hydraulic motor 62 iscoupled at each end thereof via a universal joint 68 with a respectivereel 56. This independent movement of center reel support arm 58 can beaccomplished manually using a separate actuating switch or lever inoperator's cab 70, or automatically using an electronic controller 72located within cab 70 or other suitable location.

According to an aspect of the present invention, each platform section16, 18 and 20 has a leading edge which is configured to allow cutterbarassembly 22 to flex an appreciable extent in a localized manner acrossthe width of cutting platform 12.

Referring to FIGS. 4-8, each float arm 28 has a distal end adjacent theleading edge of cutting platform 12. The float arms 28 associated witheach respective platform section 16, 18 and 20 are mounted with acorresponding flexible substrate 74 extending substantially across thewidth of that particular platform section 16, 18 or 20. Flexiblesubstrate 74 for each particular platform section 16, 18 and 20 inessence forms the backbone to which the other modular components (to bedescribed hereinafter) are mounted and allows flexibility of theplatform section across the width thereof. In the embodiment shown,flexible substrate 74 is a steel plate with various mounting holesformed therein, and has a modulus of elasticity providing a desireddegree of flexibility. The geometric configuration and material typefrom which flexible substrate 74 is formed may vary, depending upon theapplication.

The distal end of each float arm 28 is fastened to a knife guard 46,flexible substrate 74, crop ramp 76 and hold down 48. Cutterbar 30,including blades 44 carried by bar 78, is reciprocally carried by knifeguards 46. Hold downs 48 which are spaced across the width of cutterbar30 retain bar 78 within the corresponding grooves formed in knife guards46.

Crop ramps 76 (FIG. 4) are overlapped but not rigidly attached to eachother, thereby allowing flexure during harvesting operation. Each cropramp 76 forms an upper ledge positioned above endless belt 32 whichassists in maintaining the crop material on endless belt 32 as it istransported toward feeder housing 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4,crop ramp 76 has a flat, angled orientation to assist in transport ofthe crop material from cutterbar assembly 22 to endless belt 32. Forcertain applications, it may be possible to eliminate crop ramps 76.

Belt guides 80 are formed with both a smooth upper transition and asmooth lower transition between adjacent belt guides 80, resulting in noor little accumulation of crop material above the belt guides, and noextra wear to the endless belt 32 below the belt guides. Moreparticularly, each belt guide 80 has a rear edge 82 with an uppersurface 84 and a lower surface 86. Lower surface 86 partially overlies aleading edge 88 of endless belt 32. Upper surface 84 and lower surface86 each have a continuous, uninterrupted contour. That is, there are noabrupt discontinuities such as recesses or projections which might tendto accumulate crop material (on top) or wear the endless belt (below).In the embodiment shown, upper surface 84 and lower surface 86 are eachgenerally planar, but could also be formed with a slight curvature(e.g., simple or compound curvature).

The direction of overlap between adjacent belt guides 80 is generallyopposite to the travel direction of endless belt 32. However, byproviding a smooth lower transition between adjacent belt guides 80,there is no undue wear to either the lip 94 or the endless belt 32.Further, the direction of overlap between adjacent belt guides 80 is inthe same direction as the crop material movement across the uppersurfaces thereof, resulting in little or no accumulation of cropmaterial on top of belt guides 80.

Skid shoes 100 (FIGS. 5-8) are mounted at the forward end to flexiblesubstrate 74, and thus extend rearwardly from cutterbar assembly 22.Skid plates 102 are detachably mounted to skid shoes 100 using fasteners104, such as rivets, bolts or screws. Skid shoes 100 and skid plates 102act in a conventional manner as a skid shoe below cutterbar assembly 22,but in addition also include an integral belt support 106 for supportingthe leading edge 88 of the return run of endless belt 32.

More particularly, each skid shoe 100 includes an upper surface 108defining belt support 106. Belt support 106 has a generally L-shapedcross-sectional configuration with a belt carrying surface 110 which isoriented generally parallel to the return run of the endless belt 32when the leading edge of cutting platform 12 is in a lowered, workingposition. By combining belt support 106 into skid shoe 100, a separatecomponent part in the form of a separate belt carrier for the return runof the endless belt 32 is eliminated. Since numerous belt carriers areutilized along the length of the return run of the endless belt, thisresults in considerable part reduction, simplicity of design, and costsavings.

Skid shoes 100 are movable relative to each other and are made as a bentmetal part, preferably formed as a stamped metal part from sheet metalto reduce manufacturing costs. Configured as such, each skid shoe 100includes a hollow cavity 112 at a lower surface 114 thereof. Each skidplate 102 is mounted to the lower surface 114 of a respective skid shoe100, and covers hollow cavity 112. During use it is possible (and infact likely) that skid plates 102 will impinge upon various groundprojections, such as rocks, sticks, hard dirt clods, etc. To inhibitdeformation upon impact with such objects, each skid plate 102 includesone or more reinforcing ribs 116 which extend into hollow cavity 112 andterminate adjacent lower surface 114 of hollow cavity 112. In theembodiment shown, each skid plate 102 includes a plurality ofinterconnected reinforcing ribs 116 which extend into hollow cavity 112and terminate adjacent lower surface 114 of hollow cavity 112.Reinforcing ribs 116 allow skid plate 102 to be formed from plastic,such as with a casting process.

Each skid shoe 100 also includes an integral and laterally extendingshield 118. Shield 118 has a lower end 120 which is positioned below thebelt carrying surface 108 of belt support 106 so as to prevent crop andother material from impinging upon or accumulating at the leading edgeof endless belt 32. Shield 118 has a lateral end with an overlap 122which is configured to overlap but allow movement relative to anadjacent skid shoe 100. Overlap 122 includes a bent lip 123 whichoverlaps with an adjacent skid shoe 100.

During harvesting operation, float arms 28 are placed in a float stateallowing free upward and downward movement as combine 10 traverses overthe ground surface. Cutterbar assembly 22 moves up and down with floatarms 28 on a localized basis, and crop ramps 76 and belt guides 80 moverelative to each other to allow the flexibility at the leading edge ofeach platform section 16, 18 and 20. Belt guides 80 also cause each belt32 to follow the cutterbar assembly by holding down on the upper surfaceof the belt as cutterbar assembly 22 locally dips downward. Thisprevents crop material from entering beneath belt 32. Skid shoes 100,with attached skid plates 102, move up and down on a localized basisdepending upon the ground terrain, and also concurrently carry theleading edge of the return run of endless belt 32. Shields 118 extendingfrom skid shoes 100 are positioned in front of the leading edge ofendless belt 32, and prevent material from impinging upon oraccumulating at the leading edge of the return run of endless belt 32.The present invention therefore provides a cutting platform which flexesto a high degree, efficiently moves crop material to the feeder housing,and maximizes harvest yield by better following the ground contour.

Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent thatvarious modifications can be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cutting platform for use with an agriculturalharvesting machine, comprising: at least one platform section, each saidplatform section including: a cutterbar assembly movable in a localizedmanner in upwards and downwards directions along the length of said atleast one platform section; an endless belt having a leading edge; aplurality of skid shoes, each said skid shoe extending rearwardly fromsaid cutterbar assembly and having an upper surface with a continuousuninterrupted contour defining a belt support for said leading edge ofsaid endless belt wherein each said skid shoe has a hollow cavity in anarea adjacent said belt support; and a plurality of skid plates, eachsaid skid plate being detachably connected to a lower surface of arespective said skid shoe wherein each said skid plate has at least onereinforcing rib extending into said hollow cavity and terminatingadjacent said lower surface of said skid shoe.
 2. The cutting platformof claim 1, wherein each said skid shoe is a bent metal skid shoe. 3.The cutting platform of claim 1, wherein each said belt support isgenerally L-shaped in cross section.
 4. The cutting platform of claim 1,wherein each said skid plate has a plurality of interconnectedreinforcing ribs extending into said hollow cavity and terminatingadjacent a lower side of said belt support.
 5. The cutting platform ofclaim 1, wherein said skid shoes are movable relative to each other. 6.The cutting platform of claim 5, wherein each said skid shoe includes alaterally extending shield with a lower end which is positioned below arespective said belt support.
 7. The cutting platform of claim 6,wherein each said shield has a lateral end with an overlap, each saidoverlap overlapping an adjacent said skid shoe.
 8. The cutting platformof claim 7, wherein each said overlap includes a bent lip.
 9. Thecutting platform of claim 1, wherein each said skid shoe is made frommetal, and each said skid plate is made from plastic.
 10. The cuttingplatform of claim 9, wherein each said skid shoe is a stamped metalpart, and each said skid plate is a cast plastic part.
 11. Anagricultural harvesting machine, comprising: a base unit including afeeder housing; and a cutting platform attached to said feeder housing,said cutting platform including at least one platform section, each saidplatform section having: a cutterbar assembly movable in a localizedmanner in upwards and downwards directions along the length of said atleast one platform section; an endless belt having a leading edge; aplurality of skid shoes, each said skid shoe extending rearwardly fromsaid cutterbar assembly and having an upper surface with a continuousuninterrupted contour defining a belt support for said leading edge ofsaid endless belt; and, a plurality of skid plates, each said skid platebeing detachably connected to a lower surface of a respective said skidshoe wherein each said skid shoe is a bent metal skid shoe with a hollowcavity in an area adjacent said belt support, and each said skid platehas at least one reinforcing rib extending into said hollow cavity andterminating adjacent a lower side of said skid shoe.
 12. Theagricultural harvesting machine of claim 11, wherein each said skidplate has a plurality of interconnected reinforcing ribs extending intosaid hollow cavity and terminating adjacent a lower surface of said beltsupport.
 13. The agricultural harvesting machine of claim 11, whereinsaid skid shoes are movable relative to each other, and include alaterally extending shield with a lower end which is positioned below arespective said belt support.
 14. The agricultural harvesting machine ofclaim 11, wherein each said shield has a lateral end with an overlap,each said overlap overlapping an adjacent said skid shoe.